What is a takeoff in construction? The quantities behind every estimate
A takeoff is the measured list of what a job takes: square feet of floor and wall, linear feet of trim, squares of roof, counts of doors and fixtures. It's done from the plans or the site, before any pricing. The estimate is the takeoff with prices on it, plus overhead, profit and tax.
Anthony Hicks30+ years in construction. Updated November 5, 2026.
Reading as
Takeoff and estimate
| Takeoff | Estimate | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The quantities | The quantities with prices |
| Example | 384 sq ft of wall, two coats | 384 sq ft of wall at a price per square foot |
| Comes from | Plans, a site visit, a scan or a report | The takeoff and a price list |
| Ends with | A list of measurements and counts | A total with overhead, profit and tax |
Every number on an estimate starts as a takeoff number, so a mistake in the takeoff carries straight into the price.
What gets measured
- Areas, in square feet: floors, walls, ceilings, roofs (in squares of 100 square feet), siding.
- Lengths, in linear feet: baseboard, trim, drip edge, gutters, ridge and valleys.
- Volumes, in cubic yards: concrete.
- Counts: doors, windows, fixtures, outlets, pipe jacks.
A room’s takeoff
A 12 by 12 foot room with 8 foot ceilings, one door and two windows:
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Floor | 144 sq ft |
| Ceiling | 144 sq ft |
| Walls | 2 × (12 + 12) × 8 = 384 sq ft, 334 after a door (20) and two windows (15 each) |
| Baseboard | 48 linear ft, about 45 after the doorway |
| Doors | 1 |
| Windows | 2 |
From there, each line gets its price: the floor for carpet or laminate, the walls for paint, the baseboard by the foot. The square footage calculator and the guide to measuring a room cover the measuring.
Ways to do a takeoff
- By hand, on site: a tape or laser measure, a sketch, and the math done on paper.
- From plans: measured off printed or PDF drawings with a scale, or in takeoff software that measures on the screen.
- From a scan or a report: a phone’s LiDAR scan of the rooms, or a roof report ordered by the address.
Takeoff on the phone
BluMatrix does the takeoff on the visit: the rooms measured with the phone (a LiDAR scan on an iPhone Pro, or the corners marked on any phone), the roof from the address, and every area, length and count goes straight into the estimate, written line by line at current prices for the ZIP code. The roof estimate guide shows the same for a roof.
Common questions
What is a quantity takeoff?
The same thing: the list of material quantities a job needs, measured before pricing.
Who does takeoffs?
Estimators, contractors writing their own bids, and adjusters scoping a claim.
What’s the difference between a takeoff and a bid?
The takeoff is the quantities; the bid is the price offered for the job, built from the takeoff, the prices, and overhead and profit.